Master "Tornado of Souls" by Megadeth with Essential Guitar Techniques

Dive deep into the shredding world of Megadeth with our comprehensive guitar lesson on "Tornado of Souls", one of the band's most iconic tracks. This song, renowned for its complex solos and aggressive rhythm sections, is a masterpiece that offers an excellent opportunity for guitarists to refine their technical skills. Our expert instructors at Licklibrary.com will guide you through the song, focusing on essential techniques such as palm muting, power chords, alternate picking, and string bending. This lesson is taught by Sam Bell.

Key Techniques in "Tornado of Souls"

Palm Muting

Palm muting is a pivotal technique in "Tornado of Souls," creating a tight, controlled sound that defines much of the song’s rhythm guitar parts. By resting the side of your picking hand palm lightly against the strings near the bridge, you can mute the strings slightly, producing a chunky and percussive effect. This technique is crucial for playing heavier music genres, helping you achieve that signature 'chug' sound that is rhythmic and dynamic.

Power Chords

Power chords are a staple in rock and metal guitar playing, featured extensively throughout "Tornado of Souls." These chords consist of the root note and its fifth, sometimes including the octave of the root, creating a full, robust sound that drives the foundation of many rock songs. Learning power chords allows you to deliver powerful and harmonic-rich backing for any song.

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking, a technique where the pick strokes the strings in an alternating down and up motion, is essential for the fast-paced solo sections of "Tornado of Souls." This method increases your picking efficiency, enabling you to play complex solos and riffs with speed and precision. Mastering alternate picking is vital for any guitarist looking to excel in fast playing styles.

String Bending

String bending adds expressive detail to the solo sections of the song, where emotional intensity peaks. This technique involves pushing the string sideways across the fretboard to raise its pitch, adding a vocal-like quality to your playing. Bends can be subtle or extreme, each adding a unique emotional layer to the music.

The Guitar Genius of Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman, the lead guitarist for Megadeth during the era of "Tornado of Souls," is known for his unique and intricate playing style. His approach combines exotic scales and sophisticated arpeggios with aggressive speed and precision. Friedman's influence is profound, inspiring a generation of guitarists with his technical abilities and musical creativity. Studying his parts in "Tornado of Souls" not only enhances your technical skills but also deepens your understanding of how emotion can be effectively conveyed through the guitar.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Learning these techniques will enable you to navigate the guitar fretboard more efficiently and expressively. Palm muting and power chords will ground your rhythm playing with a solid foundation, essential for metal and rock genres. Alternate picking and string bending, on the other hand, will expand your capabilities in lead guitar, allowing you to play more intricate solos that stand out. Each skill is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of guitar playing, applicable across various musical styles.

Conclusion

Our guitar lesson on "Tornado of Souls" by Megadeth is designed not just to teach you how to play the song, but to immerse you in the techniques that make it a standout track. By the end of this tutorial, you'll not only master the song but also gain valuable skills that will elevate your overall guitar playing prowess.


List of Guitar Techniques Used in the Lessons

Enroll in this lesson at Licklibrary.com and start shredding "Tornado of Souls" while mastering techniques that define the sound of modern metal guitar.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Sam Bell

Sam Bell has been playing guitar from the age of 4, since then he has played many styles from Funky Blues to screaming Metal/Fusion on 8 string guitar. A member of UK tech metal band ‘Mask of Judas’, he is also currently writing his own solo instrumental album. He also...

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